Entry into USA

[AU1204]

Re: Can anyone help?

My sister is a Chinese-Australian. She is going to travel to US on a B-2 Visa.
How long will she be allowed to stay in the US? She booked a round way tickets for 85 days’stay. But she just applied 3 weeks on the Form DS156. Will the immigration officer at the port of entry (LA) find out the differences?
Is it going to be a big problem? The passport shows Multi-entry OK for one year.

Really appreciate your help!

 

[Dave Noble]

The 1st issue is whether the information provided ( 3 weeks ) to actual intent ( 3 months ) was milful representation

Misrepresentation of a Material Facts, or Fraud

Attempting to obtain a visa by the willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or fraud, may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the United States. Classes of Aliens Ineligible to Receive Visas provides important information about ineligibilities.


IME, when entering USA on a visitor visa, they have always stamped the passport with the default date which is the maximum validity stay ( that which the inked stamp is already on ) , though they could set it to allow only a short stay, though in this case, she could apply for an extension of stay

Dave

 

[AU1204]

Dave,
Thanks again!
I am so nervous about the "milful representation". How can she explain it to the immigration officer? What can we do now?
Looking forward to hearing from you again!

AU1204

 

[NYCguy]

. How can she explain it to the immigration officer? What can we do now?

Those are very good questions. The utter humorlessness of the Homeland Security bureaucracy has been the subject of more than one of my posts on this forum, and my opinion hasn't changed. If the immigration officer notices that the dates on her visa and her return-flight documentation are different, they are sure to ask questions. Difficult questions :evil:. And they probably won't be very happy about it, because they will assume (as Dave pointed out) that she has deliberately made false declarations on her visa application.

She could call the nearest US Consular office ASAP and ask for their advice. She could change the date of her return flight. Or she could just turn up at immigration on the day and hope for the best. But if they decide not to let her in, it could also cause problems in the future if she applies for another visa.

 

[TravelCheap]

"...even though I'm Caucasian, white and blonde haired..."

Yeah, they pick you out so all the middle eastern and indian types don't feel 'profiled'. Brunette causcasians with a light tan probably do best!

 

[Flashback]

Re: TSA Website

Re: luggage locks. Don't use them. They might get cut off. Most are useless to prevent theft, anyway. Any 8 year old could pick them. Instead, to keep your luggage from opening inadvertently, use those plastic security ties that don't come off without cutting them. Then be sure you have the means of cutting them when you arrive. (And don't carry those means on your carry on, of course. Cutty things are a no no. Put them in the one pocket on your checked luggage that isn't secured by one of the ties.)

Good in theory.. but if they're just sitting in the bag in an unsecured pocket, then couldn't anyone just grab them and snip thus defeating the whole purpose of the exercise?

 

[Dave Noble]

Dave,
Thanks again!
I am so nervous about the "milful representation". How can she explain it to the immigration officer? What can we do now?
Looking forward to hearing from you again!

AU1204

If she was planning to go for 3 months , why didn't she tell the immigration officer at her interview?

I would suggest contacting the US Embassy where she got the visa issued and tell them that she has changed her plans and wants to stay for the 3 months and whether she needs to do anything

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Re: TSA Website

Good in theory.. but if they're just sitting in the bag in an unsecured pocket, then couldn't anyone just grab them and snip thus defeating the whole purpose of the exercise?

Yes. The point is that you know someone has been in your bag.

 

[simongr]

A quick observation from me on arrival here this morning. Immigration was a breeze - very quick really. I was asked a bit more about my job than normal - but that was ok. There was a bizarre video onboard the aircraft titled "Visit USA" about how if they have the machines I must use some form of electronic exit from the US to record my departure. I hadnt heard of this back in November when I was here - is this new?

 

[NM]

A quick observation from me on arrival here this morning. Immigration was a breeze - very quick really. I was asked a bit more about my job than normal - but that was ok. There was a bizarre video onboard the aircraft titled "Visit USA" about how if they have the machines I must use some form of electronic exit from the US to record my departure. I hadnt heard of this back in November when I was here - is this new?

The Visit USA machines are available at some airports. Not of the exact list of them. The process has been around for a while now, but not widely used. About 2 years ago, when departing from ORD, there were two INS agents (I assume they were INS) with handheld scanner/printer devices. They were asking all non-USA passport holders to step aside from the boarding queue and swiped their passports and then printed a "receipt" noting the Visit USA branding and date, airport and terminal of departure.

I have not used the machines yet. All my departures from USA since then have been from LAX or JFK and at that time neither of those ports was participating in the Visit USA program. May be different now.

 

[simongr]

Just checked the HOmeland Security site and there seem to be quite a few locations as operating US-Visit

DHS: US-VISIT: Current Ports of Entry

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

AFAIK still not compulsory even at those airports equipped with them. SFO has them and I'm yet to use the machine despite several international departures from SFO. Half the time the machines seem to not be working anyway.

 

[kooz]

Hi everyone - newbie alert! I've been lurking for ages and thought it was about time I finally posted.

Re luggage locks, I have recently seen so-called "TSA approved" locks which have a special key-entry thing that only TSA personnel can access. We can open the lock by combination.

Has anyone had any experience with these? I know that locks wont really stop a thief anyway, but it makes me feel better having one!

 

[NM]

Hi everyone - newbie alert! I've been lurking for ages and thought it was about time I finally posted.

Re luggage locks, I have recently seen so-called "TSA approved" locks which have a special key-entry thing that only TSA personnel can access. We can open the lock by combination.

Has anyone had any experience with these? I know that locks wont really stop a thief anyway, but it makes me feel better having one!

I have several of these. I picked up a set of 4 from a Target store in Texas for under US$10. I then attended a conference where a vendor was handing them out with their product logo, so I collected another 4 or so.

Mine are a little stronger than the basic locks that comes with most luggage, but could easily be cut off with a small cutting tool. I have never had one of them opened by the TSA yet. They have a little flag that changes colour (green to red in the case of my locks) when they have been opened with a TSA key.

Of course they are only going to stop honest thieves. I would expect there is quite a black market for the TSA keys that can be used to open them. Each lock has a TSA key number printed on it so they know which key to use. Mine are all marked as 003 key.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Welcome to AFF kooz

There have been many reports of TSA locks being cut. Having a TSA lock is better than having none at all, but as NM points out still not necessarily secure.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Hi everyone - newbie alert! I've been lurking for ages and thought it was about time I finally posted.

Re luggage locks, I have recently seen so-called "TSA approved" locks which have a special key-entry thing that only TSA personnel can access. We can open the lock by combination.

Has anyone had any experience with these? I know that locks wont really stop a thief anyway, but it makes me feel better having one!

I have several of these. Once I've had my luggage opened by TSA (and a note slipped into the case explaining that they had opened my luggage and inspected the contents). As you mention, the flag was set to "red".

As others have mentioned, this won't keep dedicated thieves out. That said, there may be other "lower hanging fruit" (namely unlocked bags) that opportunistics thieves might go after first.

 

[mbeder]

Hi everyone - newbie alert! I've been lurking for ages and thought it was about time I finally posted.

Re luggage locks, I have recently seen so-called "TSA approved" locks which have a special key-entry thing that only TSA personnel can access. We can open the lock by combination.

Has anyone had any experience with these? I know that locks wont really stop a thief anyway, but it makes me feel better having one!

I bought (in the US) & used two TSA approved locks on the return leg of a recent trip in order to save time hanging around the check-in area. I was however somewhat angry to find one of the locks missing (!) when collecting my bag in Sydney (I had flown DFW-LAX-SYD). The obligitary TSA documentation was inside the case. Luckily none of the contents were missing, but it was still annoying that they hadn't made the effort to reattach it securely.

 

[straitman]

I bought (in the US) & used two TSA approved locks on the return leg of a recent trip in order to save time hanging around the check-in area. I was however somewhat angry to find one of the locks missing (!) when collecting my bag in Sydney (I had flown DFW-LAX-SYD). The obligitary TSA documentation was inside the case. Luckily none of the contents were missing, but it was still annoying that they hadn't made the effort to reattach it securely.

That's the TSA for you. A lot of them don't even know their own rules.

Definitely no brain surgeons amongst them :!:

 

[NM]

I bought (in the US) & used two TSA approved locks on the return leg of a recent trip in order to save time hanging around the check-in area. I was however somewhat angry to find one of the locks missing (!) when collecting my bag in Sydney (I had flown DFW-LAX-SYD). The obligitary TSA documentation was inside the case. Luckily none of the contents were missing, but it was still annoying that they hadn't made the effort to reattach it securely.

I once had the opposite. I had some normal locks in one of the bags pockets but had not applied them when departing the USA. When I arrived home, my bag was locked. the TSA has inspected the bag and actually use my own locks to lock it - leaving the keys in the unlocked external pocket. At least it looked like it was secure for the casual observer.

 

[diana]

I have been travelling with TSA approved locked since 9/11 both from Sydney and also internally. My bags have never been opened on the trip to and from Syd to Ny but internally I have had bags opened (the red flag was showing) and never have I had any notice from the TSA in my bags.
Either someone has attempted to break into the bag or TSA officers have neglected to leave the required notice. I am at present in NY and have just returned from an internal flight and once again, red flag down.